Bhubaneswar: The tussle between the Centre and the state government on the issue of non-implementation of central health scheme Ayushman Bharat in Odisha resurfaced during inauguration of the Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir on Friday.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik dedicated the college to the people in the presence of Union health minister J.P. Nadda. Nadda, whose name was missing from the event's invitation card, used the platform to target the Odisha government for not agreeing to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
However, Naveen did not react to Nadda's charge and urged the students to follow the ideals of great saint Bhima Bhoi after whom the hospital has been named.
"This medical college is another stepping stone towards our resolve to ensure inclusive, equitable and sustainable development of the state. I am sure the college will serve the needs of this region to a great extent," Naveen said.
"Odisha should implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme along with its health care programme. The central scheme will be available to patients at any place across India. It will immensely help migrant workers from the state," Nadda said.
"This is a cashless scheme. When a patient goes to Tata Memorial Hospital for cancer treatment, the person will not get the benefit under the state scheme. But if he has the card under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, he will get the benefit," he said.
Aware that Odisha has reservations in implementing the scheme and had launched its own Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, he said: "We have no problem if MPs and MLAs inaugurate the (central) scheme in their respective areas. Along with the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the state should also implement the Deendayal Amrit Scheme."
Amrit stores sell branded medicines through its 136 outlets across the country.
"Twenty-nine states have already signed MoUs for Amrit, except Odisha. Medicines worth Rs 796 crore are being sold at a price of Rs 365 crore. Under the scheme, there is reduction in prices of medicines in the range of 60 to 90 per cent for the treatment of cancer and cardio-vascular diseases. All the five medical colleges in Odisha should open Amrit stores so that patients benefit by availing of branded medicines at affordable prices," Nadda said. Ayushman Bharat is going to be implemented in the country from September 25. However, Odisha has consistently maintained that its own health scheme Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was better than the central scheme.
Health minister Pratap Jena said: "Under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, Rs 5 lakh health assistance will be given to 70 lakh families. The central scheme benefits only 61 lakh families."
Hundred students have been enrolled in the first batch of the Balangir medical college.
While 15 per cent of them are from outside the Odisha, 85 per cent are from state's quota. Senior Congress leader and leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, BJP legislature leader K.V. Singh Deo also attended the event.
